Galway In Days Gone By

1915

Fight against drink

His Lordship, the Most Rev. Dr. Thos. Gilmartin, Bishop of Clonfert, has taken steps to re-organise St. Patrick’s league of the West as far as his diocese is concerned, in order to counteract the evil effects the vice of intemperance, which still holds too great a sway over the people of Ireland.

Dr. Gilmartin has conceived a bold plan, to deal with the evil and to eradicate it from the everyday lives of his people. The task is a difficult one, but with the co-operation of priests and people it cannot be an impossible one.

His circular reads: “For traders – and there are such – who violate the laws by selling drink on Sundays, keeping their premises opened after hours, and giving drink to those who have taken too much – for such traders, no words of condemnation are too strong.

“Such practices are as unfair to the trade as they are demoralising. An occasion of sin that the preachers may refer to is the distribution of drink at auctions, threshings, shearings, turf-cuttings and hay-making. It is now the opinion of medical men that intoxicating drink diminishes the capacity for work.

How much better would be a good meat dinner followed some hours after by the cup that cheers, but does not inebriate – a fresh cup of tea?”

1940

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Armada relic

A huge anchor, believed to have belonged to a ship of the Spanish Armada was taken in the trawl of a boat belonging to Mr. Michael Holleran, Inishbofin, off the boast of Inishbofin on Thursday last.

The anchor had an eleven foot shank with a ten foot crossbar, which was made of 9 inches by 9 inches black oak. The two claws had a six foot span.

It was covered to a thickness of about two inches with submarine crustaceans as hard as concrete. There is a strong tradition locally that the pay-ship of the Spanish Armada was wrecked close to the spot where this anchor has been found, and stories have been told of gold coins having been picked up on the shore of the island. This find may give rise to a treasure hunt.

It is curious that this relic of a former attempt to invade Great Britain should come to light at the present moment.

Corpo’s new home

The lay-out of the various offices of officials of the Galway Corporation in the building, formerly part of the City Technical School at Dominick-street, was under consideration at this week’s meeting of Galway Corporation, but owing to the fact that only five members of the committee of twelve appointed to inspect and report on the place recently did actually visit the premises, it was agreed to have another inspection before deciding finally on the lay-out.

It was mentioned by the Mayor, Ald. J. Costello, H.C., that the total cost of the building, including repairs and furnishing, would amount to about £2,000.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.